A win for “Kimbriki” vindicates 13 years of work 17th ANZ Agribusiness Crookwell Flock Ewe Competition Wednesday 29 and Tuesday 30 January 2025 Peter Kennedy received a warm welcome back to the ANZ Agribusiness Crookwell Flock Ewe Competition, taking home the overall champion ribbon after a 13-year hiatus. The two-day event saw 16 local Merino flocks pass under the eyes of judges Jayne Lette, Conrayn, Berridale, and Nigel Brumpton, Mt Ascot, Mitchell, QLD. Peter first entered the competition in 2012, but took a break while making some changes in his operation at “Kimbriki”, Grabben Gullen. In this time, he made the switch to genetics from Boudjah, which has had positive effects on the flock, lifting average fleece weight by as much as 2kg, increasing body weights and reducing fibre diameter. Since 2022, the average micron of the hogget line has dropped from 18.5 to 17.1-micron. He has also moved focus away from first-cross lamb production, which has lightened the load. “I used to sell the wethers as lambs but they weren’t worth much. Now I keep the wethers for 12 months, shear them and then sell them,” Peter said. To accommodate holding the wethers longer, Peter regularly culls 30% of his ewe flock, which is sitting at 430 breeders. Peter presented 105 July/August 2023-drop ewes for inspection, averaging 17.1-micron. They were awarded first place in the long wool section of the competition. “It vindicated all the work I’ve put in for the past 13 years,” Peter said about the win. Coming second was Brad and Mara Cartwright’s Thalabahblood ewes from “Kempton”, Crookwell, while the Fitzell family, “Flowerburn”, Peelwood, came third with their Langdene, Hollow Mount and Homesville-blood flock. The winner of the short wool section was Caspar and Shireen McDonald, “Aberdeen”, Crookwell, who presented a run of Carrabungla-blood ewes. Their flock averages 17.2-micron in the main fleece line, while the hoggets average 15.7-micron. Second place in the short wools went to Anthony and Michelle Selmes, Franita Pastoral Co, “Glenayr”, Crookwell, for their Boudjahblood flock. The AWN Future Development Award was presented to Michael and John Lowe, “Innisvale”, Crookwell. They displayed a run of August/September 2023-drop, Royalla and Adina-blood ewes. Photo captions. 1– Australian Wool Innovation Industry Relations Officer, Kristen Frost; overall winner Peter Kennedy, “Kimbriki”, Crookwell; Crookwell Young Woman entrant Olivia McGaw and AP&H Society president Michael Lowe. 2– Brad Cartwright, “Kempton”, Crookwell, was the winner of the Peoples Choice Award and runner up in the long wool section. 3– Paddy, Harriet, Alex, John, Sarah and Michael Lowe, “Innisvale”, Crookwell. Photos: Supplied. 1– 2– 3– – 115 –
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